Yang Xiu Enters the Secret Realm

In the secret realm, Yang Xiu began choosing his missions.

The missions appeared to be as difficult as Zhao Wuji's. It seemed the Secret Realm Spirit considered only level, not strength. In the end, Yang Xiu chose three missions.

Mission 5: Kill an eighty-thousand-year leopard-type Soul Beast to receive a Trait reward. Upon fusion, it would grant a random Trait suited to him.

Mission 17: Defeat a ninety-thousand-year Soul Beast to receive a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring.

Mission 18: Defeat a ninety-thousand-year Soul Beast to receive a hundred-thousand-year Torso Bone.

Yang Xiu summoned his Martial Soul and his External Soul Bone. He gathered Nine Heavens Thunderclap. His External Soul Bone had grown alongside him, and Nine Heavens Thunderclap now rivaled a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill in power. He intended to finish his opponent in one blow.

He watched as the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon was about to merge into one.

"I accept missions seventeen and eighteen."

The moment the countdown ended, Yang Xiu sent his fully gathered Nine Heavens Thunderclap straight at the ninety-thousand-year Saber-Toothed Tiger. The attack was certain to hit. With nowhere to run, the beast could only meet it head-on. It had underestimated the attack and overestimated itself. The instant they collided, it was sent flying. One forepaw had vanished, and a chunk of its belly was gone. It lay there on the brink of death, staring at Yang Xiu in terror.

The system soon confirmed the mission's success. Yang Xiu began fusing with the Soul Bone. He needed to strengthen his body so the hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring could serve him better. Half an hour later, the Torso Bone had fused with him, and he felt his defenses improve. He then began absorbing the Soul Ring. As time passed, a red Soul Ring appeared around him.

"Not bad. It actually reached a hundred and forty thousand years." Yang Xiu smiled, pleased. He did not rush to check his attributes. Instead, he began his final mission. After his increase in strength, an eighty-thousand-year Soul Beast posed no threat. He killed it in only a few blows. A cloud of purple mist remained, and Yang Xiu absorbed it without another word. Soon, he sank into self-reflection. What kind of Trait suits me? What kind do I need? Gradually, an answer took shape, and he understood what he wanted. Once the purple mist was fully absorbed, Yang Xiu opened his eyes and smiled with unrestrained delight.

Yang Xiu: Yang Xiu (19 years old)

Strength: Level 74

Martial Souls: Divine Shadow Leopard (purple, black, black, black, black, black, red); Dragon Soul Spear

Defense: Level 95

Spirit: Level 91

First Soul Skill (1,085 years): Berserk

Second Soul Skill (11,200 years): Claw of Fate

Third Soul Skill (10,000 years): Pursuit of Fate

Fourth Soul Skill (11,000 years): Shadow Clone Technique

Fifth Soul Skill (32,000 years): Fierce Leopard's Roar

Sixth Soul Skill (73,000 years): Void Force

Seventh Soul Skill (140,000 years): Martial Soul Avatar

Trait: Bloodline Power (beginner): Activates the Flame Emperor Bloodline within the soul. As a descendant of the Flame Emperor, fears no challenge.

Combat state: Unleashing the Flame Emperor Bloodline increases all abilities by 30% and dispels negative effects. Within a certain area (spiritual power × 4 × 3.14159... m²), it can also stir the Bloodline Power of others with the same bloodline, increasing their overall strength by 10%.

Passive: When dealt a fatal blow, has a 50% chance of surviving and taking no damage for two seconds.

External Soul Bone: Wind-Thunder Wings. Skill: Nine Heavens Thunderclap

Soul Bone: Right Leg Bone. Skill: Divine Movement

Cultivation technique: Nine Yin Manual (mastered)

Martial techniques: Snake-Coiling Seven-Feints Spear Technique, Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, Three Soul-Reaping Spears

External Soul Bone: Wind-Thunder Wings. Skill: Nine Heavens Thunderclap

Soul Bone: Right Leg Bone. Skill: Divine Movement

Torso Bone. Skill 1: Void Traversal. Turns the body into Void Force and travels through the void. Can reach places the user has visited or can detect with spiritual power.

In this state, the user cannot attack but is immune to others' attacks, except those using Void Force. Skill 2: Void Cage. Seals off an area of space, cuts it apart, then banishes it into the void.

After reading his attributes, Yang Xiu knew that despite being only level 74, he had nothing to fear from any Douluo below level 95. Bloodline Power and the Torso Bone's Soul Skills, in particular, would let him escape under almost any circumstances. If he met someone who understood Void Force, though, he would have no choice but to fight to the death. Still, a hundred-thousand-year Martial Soul Avatar was no laughing matter. Who would fall in the end was far from certain.

Yang Xiu gathered himself and left the secret realm. The moment he stepped outside, the system's voice rang out.

"Congratulations, host, on completing the mission. Reward: Flame Emperor Legacy Tower. Please select an open space, or it cannot be manifested."

"Hmm. Put it beside the Sect's Foundation Tower," Yang Xiu thought. The Foundation Tower was the nine-story tower that housed the Sect Secret Realm.

Yang Xiu soon went outside. System, manifest it. The Flame Emperor Legacy Tower appeared at once. It stood a hundred meters taller than the Foundation Tower. A Five-Clawed Golden Dragon flickered in and out of sight along its walls, yet a closer look revealed nothing there. It appeared only when someone entered the area around the tower's gates.

The sudden appearance of the Flame Emperor Legacy Tower startled everyone in the Flame Emperor Sect.

Before long, a crowd gathered beneath it and looked toward Yang Xiu.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Yang Xiu raised a hand for silence, then spoke at an unhurried pace.

"This is the Flame Emperor Legacy Tower. As you can tell from its name, its purpose is to pass on legacies."

"There are many legacies inside, including ones that are already yours. When you search, don't choose your own."

"Let me warn you first: each person has only one chance in their lifetime to enter. Don't rush in blindly."

"You also need the Flame Emperor Bloodline. Without it, you'll be killed once you enter."

"Of course, those without the Flame Emperor Bloodline may still have a chance if they're absolutely loyal to the Flame Emperor Sect. As for how they can enter, and what the Flame Emperor Bloodline is, you'll find out when you try."

"That's all. Everyone, you may leave."

"Hua Xiong, Dragon One, Guan Sheng—you three stay."

"Hua Xiong, bring Zhao Wuji back in the next couple of days. Then take him inside and find your legacy. Once you enter, you'll receive guidance and know where to look. After that, search for War God Lu Bu's legacy and see if you can win his approval."

"Dragon One, I'll have Zhu Zhuqing come to you shortly. Let her receive your legacy. I think her temperament suits it."

"Then take your brothers in. As for you, Dragon Two, and Dragon Three, I have two goals for you: seek out the legacies of Killing God Bai Qi and Ran Min. Whether you succeed depends on whether you can win their approval. Your other brothers can pursue the legacies of the strongest among you, but that should be a last resort."

"Guan Sheng, go find your ancestor's legacy."

"Well, did you all understand?" Yang Xiu added, "I'm not saying you must obtain the legacies I named. This is a matter of opportunity. They may not suit you, so follow your hearts when you search."

"If there's nothing else, get back to what you were doing."

"Yes, Sect Master."

Yang Xiu soon returned to the villa.

Zhu Zhuqing came toward him and said softly,

"Brother Xiu, you left without a word again."

Her voice betrayed nothing, as though she were simply stating a fact. But they understood each other without words; how could he miss what she meant? Yang Xiu smiled, drew her into his arms, and kissed her forehead gently. Only after seeing her blush did he speak.

"I broke through level seventy, so I went to the Sect Secret Realm. And here I am, back already. What's wrong? Did you miss me?"

Then Yang Xiu teased her. "Zhu Zhuqing, you're like a clingy little kitten. I rather like it, though."

Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed red.

"You're the kitten. Hmph!"

"Haha... My little kitten's embarrassed."

Zhu Zhuqing watched Yang Xiu laugh with abandon and tried to wriggle free, but his arms only tightened around her. She could do nothing but bury her face against him. After they lingered together for a while, Yang Xiu remembered what he needed to tell her.

"Go find Dragon One in a little while, then head to the Flame Emperor Legacy Tower. See if you can receive his legacy."

"All right, Brother Xiu." Zhu Zhuqing did not ask what the Flame Emperor legacy was. She would do anything Yang Xiu asked of her. That was what falling in love had done to her.

(Even a few people secretly watching them looked envious, but alas, they were still single.)

Before long, Zhu Zhuqing went to find Dragon One, and Yang Xiu began consolidating his cultivation. He did not go to the tower to wait for her. A legacy could take as little as three to five days or as long as a month or two. She might even come out with nothing.

As for Yang Xiu himself, he felt it was not yet time for him to enter the tower.